LAWJOBS.COM S.F. BAY AREA JOB LISTINGS

March 30, 2010

S.F. Crime Lab Still Closed, Cases Still Jeopardized

[Kate Moser]

Another chapter today in the unfolding saga of San Francisco’s troubled narcotics cases — San Francisco Police Chief George Gascon said the office’s crime lab will remain closed for now and released an ugly report (.pdf) from a recent state audit of the lab.

The Department of Justice’s audit says excessive workload played a big part in the crime lab’s shoddy work in light of an evidence-tampering scandal, which has jeopardized the DA’s cases. The DA is reevaluating 1,400 narcotics cases to determine what can be saved.

The chief’s best quote from the press conference: “Anybody that doesn’t see the magnitude of this problem is either blind or stupid.”

The chief requested the audit from the attorney general's office, and it was conducted between March 23 and 25. He also asked the AG to come in and inspect the crime lab's DNA unit, which will happen mid-April, he said.